Is ACORN Organizing, Sustaining & Planning Occupy Orlando?
- Posted on October 31, 2011 at 6:16am by
Billy Hallowell
- Print »
- Email »
Questions continue to arise regarding who, exactly, is behind the Occupy Wall Street movement (as you know, the Blaze has explored this subject a number of times already).
Considering the framework behind the mass protests, it’s virtually impossible to ignore that progressive groups are likely heavily involved in the movement. This is especially true as the days go on and unions and other special-interest groups dig their nails into a movement that holds a great deal of potential political power.
ACORN, one of many groups that have created angst among conservatives, seems to be finding its way back into the headlines once more. While the organization’s leaders claim that it has been disbanded, evidence seems to suggest the contrary. In fact, ACORN may be re-branding and some charge that its new chapters are heavily involved in helping to organize the protests.
Last week, a reader sent the Blaze some intriguing e-mails he’s been receiving from an Orlando, Florida-based group called “Organize Now.” He explained that he originally signed up to receive updates from ACORN back in 2009 (before the group shuttered).
While e-mails from ACORN have stopped, this new group — Organize Now — has begun e-mailing him, touting Occupy Wall Street and asking recipients to support the movement. Here’s a portion of the text from a recent message he claims to have received (from Organize Now):
You are the 99%.
Think about our nation’s historic unemployment rates and what it means to raise a family or sustain one’s self with zero income.
Now, realize that this is the moment in which all of that can change.
People are gathering across the nation, including in Orlando to speak out about the social and economic injustices we have endured for far too long. Occupy Orlando is standing in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and the 99%.
Now, here’s where things get interesting. The e-mails are coming from a woman named “Sheena Rolle.” Her official title presented at the bottom of the e-mail messages we’ve reviewed is “head organizer.” It’s important to remember that this reader claims to have never signed up for Occupy Orlando and Organize Now e-mail updates (he assumes that the ACORN e-mail list is now being used to promote Occupy Orlando).
Considering the coverage the Blaze shared with readers earlier this week about allegations that ACORN is involved in Occupy Wall Street in New York, we decided to investigate Organize Now to see if, indeed, it has ties to ACORN.
Groups like JudicialWatch have been tracking what they see as a re-branding of ACORN for months. After all, discovering these connections and understanding what’s going on beneath the surface is paramount. While ACORN claimed that it was shutting down back in 2010, JudicialWatch wrote the following in a report entitled, “The Rebranding of ACORN,” this past August:
…evidence clearly suggests the following:
- New and existing ACORN “spin-offs” are alive and well and will surely continue to flaunt state and federal laws in a blatantly partisan effort to register people — eligible or otherwise — who will vote for the reelection of Barack Obama and other liberal candidates across the country in 2012. In the words of Bertha Lewis, “these new entities are carrying on ACORN’s work of organizing low- and moderate-income folks… [We have created] 18 bulletproof community-organizing Frankensteins that they’re going to have a very hard time attacking.”
- Tens of millions of dollars in ACORN’s funds and other assets are unaccounted for. This is currently being investigated by the Louisiana attorney general’s office and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, as well as Judicial Watch
The document goes on to profile ACORN-related groups, recapping how these new entities are masquerading under new names and titles. Among the groups mentioned, JudicialWatch claims that Organize Now — the same organization cited by our tipster — is, indeed, connected to ACORN. Here’s a screen shot from the report (see number four):
The address (although not the URL — which is not an active web site) matches the information in the e-mail that was sent to our tipster. So, we’ve established, at least according to JudicialWatch, that there is a connection between Organize Now and ACORN. But what about Sheena Rolle, the woman who has been sending the e-mails out in support of Occupy Orlando?
In a 2008 article by the Miami Herald, Rolle is referred to as “a special project director with ACORN.” In another piece by WLPG (circa 2009), she is, again, referred to as an ACORN staffer. A progressive blog indicates, yet again, that she worked for the leftist group. Here’s a screen shot from a health care town hall meeting she apparently organized alongside a staffer from the SEIU:
On Thursday, a media report on WBDO.com describes a woman named “Sheena Rolle” as being “of Occupy Orlando” (we assume, clearly, that this is the same woman). See a screen show, below, as she was interviewed about recent arrests at the protests (in the video interview, she is described as an “Occupy Orlando Protester”):
Now, it’s possible the Rolle has simply moved on to work with a new group (Organize Now) and that she is assisting this totally ACORN-unrelated organization with her community organizing skills. That’s, of course, an option that must be highlighted to be entirely fair in covering this story.
However, here’s another oddity: The domain name — OrgNow.org — is registered to a “Stephanie Porta.” As early as 2003, at least one media report shows that a woman by this same name was an ACORN staffer in Florida.
In a 2009 Sun Sentinel article, Porta is described as a “Florida organizer for ACORN” (in the piece, she comments about the infamous pimp and prostitute video scandal that brought the organization down in the first place). And there’s a 2010 article by PolitiFact that identifies Porta as “ACORN’s former Florida director.” In this particular piece, she claims that the group’s Florida offices have been shut down since 2009. While it‘s possible there’s another woman named “Stephanie Porta” who just so happened to register the domain, it’s doubtful.
Then there’s Tamecka Pierce, another individual who has deep connections to the defunct group. In 2009, ACORN’s former leader Bertha Lewis discussed Pierce in an in-depth article for the Huffington Post (Lewis used her story in the article to push for health care reform).
JudicialWatch‘s Sean Dunagan tells the Blaze that Pierce was formerly the state’s ACORN president. ACORN founder Wade Rathke has even written about her on his blog. Without fail, in August 2011, a press release on the Organize Now web site identifies Pierce as the president of Organize Now. Another coincidence? Probably not.
Despite these very odd factoids, a Twitter account that appears to be Porta’s contains messages that dismiss recent allegations connecting ACORN and the Occupy protests (potentially ironic if coming from a former ACORN employee). Here are a few of the tweets that have been sent from this account over the past few days:
Among the links mentioned above, is an article from Media Matters for America. In it, the leftist group dismissed reports by Fox News, the Blaze and other media outlets that seem to showcase some bizarre patterns of former ACORN staffers embedding themselves in the Occupy movement. Media Matters writes:
Led by Fox News, right-wing media have claimed that ACORN is playing a “behind [the] scenes role” in Occupy Wall Street, alleging that the group New York Communities for Change (NYCC) — which is led by a former ACORN official — is paying people to join protests and collecting money to fund OWS activities. But NYCC has flatly denied these claims, and ACORN — which has been a right-wing media bogeyman for years — disbanded in November 2010.
The point that Media Matters appears to be glossing over is that, as JudicialWatch has noted, there seems to be a rebranding campaign going on. Of course, one could argue that all of these former staffers are simply finding one another because of the closely-knitted nature of the community organizational movement. But this seems unlikely.
Now, let’s circle back around to our tipster, who purportedly never signed up for Organize Now e-mails, but magically began receiving them. Remember, he was on the ACORN list previously. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to wonder if ACORN’s Florida e-mail lists were turned over to Organize Now. Of course, this is conjecture — however the facts seem pretty compelling.
The only lingering question is: Who’s funding Organize Now? Stay tuned for more.
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 696 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 524 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 353 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 353 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 343 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 343 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 353 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 261 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 343 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (70)
Obama_Sham
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:14pmCan this wait till after Thanksgiving?!? I’ll be in Orlando on vacation that week… Anytime after that would be fine…
Report Post »Morris
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 1:28pmThis all depends on how much money that George Soros and Dictator Barack Hussein Obama
will give to the people to protest?
Dictator Obama and Soros are giving signs to Homeless people and Illegal Alien Invaders to carry
in New York City,and paying them $20.00 Dollars to protest!
Great to have Dictator Obama wanting to have protests in our American Streets!
Great to have the person sitting in our Whitehouse,paying protesters to “RIOT” in our Streets!
Dictator Obama is just waiting for the guns to show up at the protests, Then he can declare
“MARTIAL LAW”,This will be Dictator Obamas EXCUSE to take away our 2-nd AMENDMENT,
Dictator Obama will be taking our guns out of our AMERICAN DEAD HANDS!
Dictator Obama and Soros,Saudi Arabia, “CAIR” and the Muslim Brotherhood want Dictator Obama
to “DISARM”, “WE THE PEOPLE” of the United States Of America!
America, IMPEACH THIS MUSLIM DICTATOR BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA,SAVE OUR AMERICA
FROM Dictator Obama, “CAIR”, Saudi Arabia and the Muslim Brotherhood from turning our
America into the ISLAMIC MUSLIM BARBARIC SATAN CULT COUNTRY OF ISLAM!
WERE IN THE HELL IS OUR AMERICAN CONGRESS?
Report Post »CONGRESS WERE IN THE HELL ARE YOU ALL?
CONGRESS CAN,T YOU ALL SEE WHAT THIS DICTATOR IS DOING TO OUR AMERICA?
CONGRESS CAN,T YOU SEE THAT DICTATOR OBAMA IS GIVING HIS FRIENDS AND FUNDRAISERS BILLIONS OF OUR AMERICAN TAX MONEY FOR OBAMAS “GREEN JOBS”,
DICTATOR OBAMAS “GREEN JOBS”=“GREEN CASH” TO PUT INTO THE POCKETS OF
DICTATOR
Wringeaux
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 11:50amStaged FAKE arrests.
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6BARB-aSqYM
ejbonk
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 11:03amJust old fashion Evil,by a NEW NAME. Beware of SEIU in all it’s forms,and works.
Report Post »BJColter Country Music Iconoclast
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 10:47amI challenge you CHRISTIANS in Orlando to show up with JESUS signs and start preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to these seditionists! Here’s my challenge in song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuQ8vTG1jkA
Report Post »MAnderson1965
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 10:44amWhat these OWS planners and protesters are aiming for is an eventual clash between themselves and the 53% of Americans, who think they are an embarrassment and nothing more than useful idiots. Violent revolution is their end-game, and they will keep aggravating everyone else until they reach that goal. Then, Obama and his camp can lay down martial law across the land, canceling the 2012 presidential elections, and taking the U.S. by force as a dictator. Stand by for heavy rolls my friends. I am the 53%.
Report Post »hightide
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 10:26amQuote you’ll never hear from barack obama:
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people’s initiative and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.
… Abraham Lincoln
the republicans need to grow a pair!! (i said that, not Abe)
Report Post »lillymckim
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 10:42amFlorida needs to vote wisely and make sure Bill Nelson is not reelected to office ever again
Report Post »He backs Acorn and he backed the outsourcing of our space coast jobs!
decendentof56
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 12:00pmHIGHTIDE someone posted that one.
Report Post »wildwood
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 10:00amTHERE IS AN OLD SAYING, GET ON THE GOVERNMENT PAY ROLL AND YOU ARE SET FOR LIFE!!!!.
Report Post »These crooks will be well paid as long as the democrats are in the congress and whitehouse!!!!!
Seems like the voice of the tax payer have no affect on these liberals!!!!!!!!
There is something we can do, that is vote the whole corrupt flock out of office!!!
NOBALONEY
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 9:42amTook some investigative journalism by The Blaze. MSM busy with puff pieces for their favorites, and attacks on the Republican candidates running for President, or any hopeuls for VP(Rubio).
Report Post »Hickory
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 9:37amObama’s army in action.
Report Post »TheePolitinator
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 9:26amI thought these radical idiots were de-funded? Oh thats right, they just made the check out to a different name…. Pfft
Report Post »the point
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 9:00amIt looks like Beck was right …..again.
Report Post »Unbelievable
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 9:12am99.9% of the time Beck is spot on!
Report Post »lillymckim
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 9:21amTamecka Pierce of Acorn state director and Susannah Randolph Florida Watch Action staffer of infamous voted off the island … Alan Grayson = AFL-CIO = Organize Now
This stinks of Debbie Wasserman Shultz and Alan Grayson!
Report Post »65Mustang
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:55amIs the Acorn activists behind OWS…well duh. Is the Pope Catholic?
Report Post »olddog
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:31amJust how many millions of dollars has acorn cheated americans out of ???
Report Post »lillymckim
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:57amTwo words … “Alan Grayson”
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 11:10amDale Rathke, the founder’s brother, defrauded ACORN of almost $1 million. If they want to live in an egalitarian world why do they have to steal so much?
Embezzled $948,607.50 ACORN & affiliated charities in 1999 – 2000.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/cross_tabs/2008/07/the_truth_about_acorn.html
Report Post »http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/us/09embezzle.html
truthseekerusa
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:21amThere is going to be a great need for poll watchers in 2012. If you are physically able and not afraid of the Black Panthers and Acorn operatives, volunteer and come armed with a camera to record behavior of the thugs.
Report Post »gmoneytx
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 4:20pmI would love a black panther to TRY to strong arm me at a polling location…CHL!
Report Post »spfoam1
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:01amThe only time there is true equality is when everyone is a slave, and that excludes the masters of course. It’s amazing how blacks in America, who have played hypersensitive (for decades) to racism and slavery in the past, are willing to place everyone into the bondage of communism or Islam.
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:09amyeah, there is this saying that no one thinks about anymore.
“If you want to be treated like an adult, act like an adult.”
this works… whether you like it or not. and is the same as…
“If you want to act like a baby, you will be treated like a baby.”
freedom Requires responsibility.
Report Post »Bum thrower
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 9:05amThey don’t care as long as they get a check. LBJ knew this and that is why he creatted the ‘war on poverty’ and ‘the great society’; he knew a black would sell their soul for a government check….
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:59amObama authorized bank bailouts too… didn’t Acorn get Obama elected through voter fraud? and now they are mad about it? it’s exactly what they wanted… Acorn has no right or speak out against Obama, in fact they should be slapped in their faces for this…
Report Post »roadhog
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:49amAll the Former Acorn staff are on Obamas Payroll with the Union Thugs ppaying them.
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:44amso acorn which gets funds from the government is going to protest the government? stupid is as stupid does
Report Post »mbriz
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:42amNo.
Report Post »slvrserfr
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:40amACORN needs to die along with the liberal establishment in Congress and the White House. These are the people that created the subprime mortgage crisis, escalated the housing bubble and caused the economic collapse. They are the reason why this country has become this crippled.
Report Post »mbriz
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:53amHey glen junior, bush had a little bit to do with this crisis, maybe everything, You and glen can make up all the history you want, but it doesn’t change facts. Stop the beck train of hate, and lies.
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:00amyeah bush and obama are 2 names that will be as disgusting as hitler.
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:05amAcorn did help with the mortgage bubble. alot of people got those loans with the plan of never paying it. it was planned domestic terrorism.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:10amJB,
Report Post »Bush and Obama are vegetarians?
let us prey
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:12amUnfortunately, the history books will never write the real story of obumbler and his administration. The facts,figures,events and issues will be re-written to eliminate the incompetence that is hope/change. This administration will be given a pass for all the disgusting things they have done so far.
Report Post »Mess23
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:25amI am curious as to how the progressives are going to cheat the elections with voter fraud and imtimidation this time… Watch the other hand.
Report Post »TheePolitinator
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 9:29amYou mean even if there is an election, right?
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 10:13amVoter fraud will be massive,the dems are masters at it,union thugs will be out in force.We may even get to vote,just maybe.
Report Post »Mess23
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:21amI am curious as to how the progressives are going to cheat the elections with voter fraud and intimidation this time? Watch the other hand.
Report Post »ropespinner
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:14amwhat would we learn about these organizations if it was’nt for FOX NEWS and THE BLAZE ETC ? we have a very serious problem with those that are governing our country.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:09amIf Obama was not in the White House he would be organizing for Acorn himself. “We Can’t Wait” to get rid of you Barry.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:31amOccupy Tampa has been a big fat zero. The cops here haven’t put up with any crap from day one. I’m sure Orlando is aware of this. Being the gunshine state might of helped too…..Mickey just might Glock ya
Report Post »decendentof56
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:32amGonzo……
Report Post »You better pray that enough people remember that in Nov 2012!
stinkybisquit
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:09amGood point, Gonzo. Like Van Jones, he could be more dangerous when he’s out, and has the power of influence of being a former president, without what little constraints the office now holds.
Report Post »Bowmaster
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 6:35amOur entire system under Obama is a scam!
Report Post »The emboldened underbelly of society will never give up.
We need to shine a light on all this subversive behavior.
Thanks Blaze!
decendentof56
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:30amVery interesting, indeed, though it was already apparent that ‘Acorn’ would not go away, but splinter off as new groups. You have to remember that these people have been at it for a long, long time, and are committed!
The hatred and racism on the left is astounding. Black Nationalists’ hatred is , of course, being taken advantage of by the Socialists’/Marxists’. Funny in a way, this hatred by Blacks. They have been sold a bill of goods by the race-baiters….the real agitators, into believeing they cannot succeed, yet, all the while, many Blacks succeed. This racism goes so deep that a sizeable portion of Black America has bought in to this lie.
So….to have a better life with no restrictions on success other than their own limitations, racist-laden Blacks buy into the idea that all must come down to their level. That level is, of course, the ‘all will have the same’ life of Socialism, even though that system is failing in countries where it had been entrenched long enough to completely drain economies and the willpower to excel.
Report Post »So it is that people who have blind hatred are willing to give up complete freedom to live a life of mediocrity and economic slavery. Incredible!
mbriz
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:55amClueless, so misinformed.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:17ammbriz
Report Post »Where is the misinformation?
Walkabout
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 11:12ammbriz
Holder & the gunrunning.
Holder & the Black Panthers being let off the hook for Voter intimidation
Solyndra
Report Post »decendentof56
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 11:57amMR BRIZ….
Report Post »If anyone is misinformed, it is you. These Acorn goons are a racist-and-America-hating bunch being used.
Maybe you can explain the attacks in Wisc and Philly on Whites…. by Blacks.
I’d like to hear your justification, and excuse. You are pathetic!